Oscillating feeding apparatus



y '14, 1957 H. E. ERICKSON ETAL 2,792,096

OSCILLATING FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 16, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Harold E. Erickson BY Byron B. Broakhyser y 14, 1957- H. E. ERICKSON ET AL 2,792,096

OSCILLATING FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 16, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTORS Harold .E Erickson By Byron B.Bz-ookh yser May 14, 1957 H. E. ERICKSON ET AL 2,792,096

OSCILLATING FEEDINGAPPARATUS Filed Jan. 16, 1956 5 Shefcs-Sheet 5 IN V EN TORS Harold E. Erickson BY B yron B. Brookhys er United States Patent M OSCILLATING FEEDING APPARATUS Harold E. Erickson, Auburn, and Byron B. Brookhyser, Milton, Wash, assignors of one-half to Columbia Veneer Company, Seattle, Wash, a corporation of Washington, and one-half to Dale L. Schubert, Tacoma, Wash.

Application January 16, 1956, Serial No. 559,247

16 Claims. (Cl. 19317) or shavings of wood or other lignocellulose first are spread upon caul plates for the purpose of building up a felt. The caul plates and their superimposed felts then are Patented May 14,1957

bar. Means are provided for adjusting the working bar angularly, thereby adjusting the amplitude of oscillation of the discharge means. Means also are provided for adjusting the common working bar axially, thereby adjusting the discharge direction of the discharge means.

Considering the foregoing in further detail, and with particular reference to the drawings:

In Figs. 1-3 the presently described oscillating feeding apparatus is illustrated as applied to the manufacture of fiberboard by the dry or moist processes. In these procedures caul plates 10-12 are placed on an endless driven conveyor 14 moving to the right as viewed in Fig. 1; Particles of wood or other lignocellulose are deposited on the caul plates to form a superimposed felt or mat 16. As the caul plates and felt leave belt 14, they are conveyed to a press, not shown, and pressed into fiberboard of the desired density.

For depositing mat 16 on the caul plates, there is provided an apparatus enclosed in hood 18 and including a discharge means or spout 20 mounted for oscillation transversely of the felt; As viewed in side elevation, the spout preferably'i's flared downwardly to afford a lower opening transferred to a hot press and consolidated to the desired,

density. In this procedure it is of critical importance that the lignocellulose particles be distributed uniformly over the caul surface. If they are not, an irregularfelt is produced and the irregularity of the felt is reflected in non-uniform density of the consolidated product.

However, even distribution of the lignocellulose particles is diflicult to obtain since their rate and mannerv of deposition on the caul varies with their moisture content, their particle size, the presence or absence of disturbing air currents and other factors. Since these factors usually vary from time to time during continuous operation of the mill at running compensating adjustment of the felting apparatus must be provided and it is the general object of this invention to provide such an adjustment.

The manner in which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished will be apparent from the accompanying specification and claims considered together with the drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a schematic view in side elevation of apparatus embodying the herein described oscillating feeding apparatus and adapted for use in spreading lignocellulose particles on caul plates prior to hot-consolidating the resulting mat;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view in elevation taken along line 2-2 of Fig. l and further illustrating the oscillating apparatus of Pig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail view in end elevation of one form of control for use in the herein described feeding apparatus; and

Fig. 5 is a detail view in end elevation illustrating a second form of control for use in the herein described feeding apparatus.

Generally stated, the oscillating feed apparatus of our invention comprises a feed discharge means, drive means connected to the discharge means for oscillating the same, means connected to the drive means for varying the amplitude of oscillation of the discharge means, and means connected to the drive means for varying the discharge direction of the discharge means.

In the illustrated embodiment the drive means includes a motor and a linkage comprising two interconnected and cooperating four-bar systems having a common working in bearings24; 26,"extending upwardly from the frame of hood'18.v 1It communicates'with a flexible conduit 28 which leads to a' suitable source of wood fiber or other material ,in particle forms I i i To compensate fordisturbing air currents, variations in size and moisture content of the feed," and other complicating factors,-- there is associated with spout 20 a drive means-linked to the spout through a linkage which permits adjustment of the amplitude of the spout oscillation, vand also :of its direction. Accordingly it is possible to provide a wide sweep which will deposit the particles over a wide area, 'or a narrow sweep which will confine their deposit to a relatively restricted area. Also, it is possible to direct the discharge of the particles toward one side or the other of the apparatus. In this manner complete control of the mat building operation is afforded at all times.

The driving and linking mechanism include a first fourbar linkage comprising actuating crank 30 rigidly attached to shaft 22, actuating link 32 pivotally connected to crank 30 through pin 33, and adjusting link 34 pivotally connected to actuating link 32 through pin 36. The other end of link 34 is pivotally connected through pin 38 to the frame of the apparatus, the frame thus constituting the fourth bar of the linkage.

This four-bar linkage is interconnected and cooperative with a second four-bar linkage including adjusting link 34 as a common moving member or working bar, drive link 40 connected to both actuating link 32 and adjusting link 34 through common pin 36, and drive crank 42 pivotally connected to drive link 40 through pin 44. The other end of crank 42 is attached to a rotating shaft 46 which is connected through gear box 48 to bracket 50 on the frame of the apparatus which therefore constitutes the fourth bar of the second four-bar linkage.

Rotating shaft 46 may be driven by any suitabl'emeans, as for example by motor 52 connected to gear box 48 by means of belt 54. The action of the cooperating fourbar linkages is such as to transform the rotary motion of shaft 46 driven by motor 52 into angular movement of actuating crank 30 which in turns imparts an oscillatory movement to spout 20. a

The amplitude of this oscillation may be changed by angular adjustment of adjusting link 34. It will be apparent that if this link lies at an angle to connecting link 32, a thrust will be imparted to the latter link with the.

3 result that drive crank 30 will move through a substantial angle, thereby causing the oscillating spout to move through a correspondingly large angle. However, as adjusting link 34 is moved angular-1y toward connecting, link 32, the thrust action on connectinglink 32 during operation of the apparatus is diminished progressively, so that when link 34 is parallel to link 32, the thrust is at a minimum and scarcely any oscillatory motionof spout 20 occurs.

Angular adjustment of adjusting link 34 is secured in the embodiment of Fig. 4 by pivotally mounting its upper end on an adjusting bar 60 through pin 38. Bar 60 is provided with a pair of spaced apart, calibrated, longitudinal slots 62., 64, the purpose of which will appear hereinafter. Its 'lower end is pivotally attached to the frame of the apparatus by means of, bolt 66 which penetrates slot 64. Its upper portion is. connected to a quadrant 68 afiixed to the frame of the apparatus and having a calibrated longitudinally extending central slot 70.

Although attachment of bar 69 to quadrant 68 may be secured by any suitable means, in the illustrated form it is obtained by means of a bolt 72 which penetrates slot 62 in bar 69 and underlying slot 70 in the quadrant. Accordingly, by releasing bolt 72, bar 60 and adjusting link 34 which it supports may be pivoted in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, the pivoting of the bar occurring about bolt 66 at its lower extremity, and the pivoting of the adjusting link 34 occurring about pin 36 at its lower extremity. When the desired adjustment has been made, bolt 72 may be tightened thereby releasably securing the link in a position calculated to impart the desired amplitude of oscillation to spout 20.

Where a restricted amplitude is desired, bar 60 is moved counterclockwise, for example to the positions indicated at A or B of Fig. 4. These result in restricted amplitudes A and B, respectively. However, where it is desired. to have a wide amplitude, then bar 60 may be moved in a clockwise direction, for example to the positions C or D, whereupon enlarged amplitudes C or D, respectively will be obtained.

Similarly, means are provided for adjusting the direction of discharge of the material, i. e. toward one side or the other of the caul. Such adjustment may be made by moving link 34 in an axial direction. This may be accomplished in the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 4 by adjusting the slide and guide means comprising bolt 72, which is adjustable in slot 62 of bar 60, and bolt 66 which is adjustable in slot 64 thereof.

When bar 60 and link 34 which it supports are moved axially in an upward direction, the eifect is to elevate actuating crank 30 and to shift the position of spout 20 to the left, clockwise as viewed in Fig. 4, by an increment corresponding to the degree of elevation of link 34.

Correspondingly when bar 60 and adjusting link 34 are moved axially in a downward direction, actuating crank 30 is lowered, moving spout 20 in a counterclockwise direction, or to the right as viewed in the drawing, by an amount corresponding to the degree of lowering of the link.

Hence it is possible to secure a fine adjustment of the direction of discharge of material passing through the spout by suitably adjusting the position of bolts 72, 66 in slots 62, 64. When bar 61 is elevated, for example to positions A or C, then spout 20 will operate in the ranges indicated as A or C, respectively, in Fig. 4. On the other hand, when it is lowered, for example to positions B or D, the spout will operate over the ranges indicated as ranges B or D, ,respectively.

The form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5 demonstrates another means of adjusting the amplitude of oscillation of spout 28 and the direction of feeding material therefrom. In this embodiment the upper end of adjusting 'link 34 is pivotally connected through pin 38 to. slide. 82. which is slidable ona calibrated quadrant arm lay downalwidepr. narrow mat of the 84. Slide 82 may be releasably secured to the arm by suitable means such as screws 86.

One end of quadrant arm 84 is pivotally attached to a frame member 88 by means of pin 90. The other end of the arm is provided with a bolt 92 which is slidable in an arcuate slot 94 extending longitudinally of a calibrated guide member 96.. This guide member may if desired be formed integrally with frame member 88.

This construction makes possible both angular and axial movement of adjusting link 34. Angular movement of this member is obtained by releasing screws 86 and moving slide 82 to any selected position on quadrant arm 84, after which the screws may be tightened. Axial movement of. link. 34 may be obtained by releasing bolt 92 and raising or lowering, arm 84. As in the case of Fig. 4, angular movement of link 62 adjusts the amplitude of oscillation of the spout while axial movement of this member adjusts the feed direction.

Operation In operating, the herein described oscillating feeding apparatus as applied to the forming of dry or moist particles of lignocellulose into a felt preliminary to pressing the felt into a consolidated product, caul plates 10, 12 are passed on an endless conveyor 14 beneath the hood 18. of a. felting. mechanism. Contained within the hood is a spout 20 which is mounted for oscillation on a shaft 22 andfed. with feed particles through a flexible" conduit. 28.

Spout 20. is oscillated by a motor 52 operating through two. interconnected, cooperating, four-bar linkages. One of. these. includes. actuating crank 30 connected to the spout, actuating link 32,. adjusting link 34, and the frame of; the. apparatus. The other includes drive crank 42 connected. to moton 52,. drive link 40, the common movable adjusting link-34.,and the frame of the apparatus.

To varythe amplitude of the oscillation asrequired to particles, angular adjustment. of adjusting. link 34 ismade. This changes the positionv of pivotpoint 38 and consequently varies the amount of thrust exerted upon actuating crank 30 and accordingly affects the sweep of the spou The angular adjustment is made in the embodiment of fig. 4 by shifting the position of adjusting bar 60, which carries link 34, on quadrant 68. In the embodiment of Fig. 5 this adjustment is made by shifting the position of slide 82, which carries adjusting link 34, on quadrant arm 84.

To adjust the discharge direction of the feed particles leaving spout 20 the position of the spout relative to the underlying structure may be shifted to the right or to the. left. This may be desirable, for example, where it is desiredv to compensate for cross currents of air which may develop during continuous operation of the appa- Iatus. Such an adjustment may be made by axial adjustment of link 34. When this link is moved upwardly, it moves pivot point 38 upwardly and shifts the position of crank 30 in a clockwise direction, thereby shifting the position of spout 20 in a clockwise direction, or to the left as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5. On the other hand, lowering link 34 moves crank 30 in a counterclockwise direction and shifts the position of spout 20 counterclockwise or to theright as viewed in Fig. 4 and 5. As a consequence the direction of feed particle delivery may be shifted to the left or to the right during operation of the apparatus.

Axial movement of the adjusting link 34 in the embodiment of Fig. 4 is secured by loosening bolts 66, 72 and adjusting the axial position of adjusting bar 60, which carries link 34, after which the bolts may be tightened down to releasably secure the bar in position. Axial adjustment of link 34 in the embodiment of Fig. 5 is obtained by loosening bolt 92 and moving quadrant arm 84 either clockwise or counterclockwise depending upon whether. it is, desired to. raise or lower link, 34. When;

the arm has reached the selected position, bolt 92 may be tightened thereby releasably locking the arm in the desired operating position.

Hence it will be apparent that by the present invention we have provided oscillating feeding apparatus for spreading particles of material over a surface. Our apparatus is adjustable instantly and accurately to provide any desired amplitude. It also is adjustable instantly and accurately to shift the direction of feed toward one side or the other of the apparatus as required by the demands of the particular operation. This adjustment may be made easily as a running adjustment of stationary members as often as required during operation of the apparatus.

Having thus described our invention in preferred embodiments, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. Oscillating feeding apparatus comprising teed discharging means, drive means connected to the discharge means for oscillating the same, means connected to the drive means for varying the amplitude of oscillation of the discharge means, and means connected to the drive means for varying the discharge direction of the discharge means.

2. Oscillating feeding apparatus comprising feed discharge means, motor means, link means connecting the motor means to the feed discharge means for oscillating the same, means connected to the link means for varying the amplitude of oscillation of the discharge means, and means connected to the link means for varying the discharge direction of the discharge means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the link means comprises two cooperating four-bar linkages having a common working bar.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means for varying the amplitude of oscillation of the feed discharge means comprises adjusting means connected to the common working bar for securing angular adjustment there of.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means for varying the discharge direction of the discharge means comprises adjusting means connected to the common working bar of the two cooperating four-bar linkages for securing the axial adjustment thereof.

6. Oscillating feed apparatus comprising feed discharge eans, mounting means for mounting the feed discharge means for oscillating movement, an actuating crank connected to the feed discharge means, an actuating link pivotally connected to the crank, an adjusting link pivotally connected at one of its ends to the other end of the actuating link and at the other of its ends to the frame of the apparatus, a drive link pivotally connected at one of its ends to the actuating link and to the adjusting link through a common pivotal connection, a drive crank pivotally connected to the drive link, and motor means connected to the drive crank for rotating the same.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 including means for adjusting the amplitude of oscillation of the feed discharge means.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the amplitude adjusting means comprises means connected to the adjusting link for moving it angularly to a selected position with respect to the actuating link.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the amplitude adjusting means comprises a quadrant positioned transversely of the adjusting link and means for releasably securing the adjusting link to the quadrant at a selected position thereof.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 including discharge direction adjusting means for varying the discharge direction of the discharge means.

ll. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the discharge direction adjusting means comprises means connected to the adjusting link for securing the same in a selected posi tion of axial adjustment.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the discharge direction adjusting means comprises guide and slide means for moving the adjusting link between a plurality of axial stations, and means for releasably securing the link in a selected one of the stations.

13. The oscillating feed apparatus of claim 10 wherein the discharge direction adjusting means comprises an arcuate lever arm, means for pivotally mounting one end of the lever arm, means for releasably securing the other end of the lever arm in a selected one of a plurality of positions, and means for attaching the adjusting link to the lever arm.

14. The oscillating feed apparatus of claim 6 including amplitude adjusting means for adjusting the amplitude of oscillation of the feed discharge means, and discharge direction adjusting means for adjusting the direction of discharge of the same.

15. The oscillating feed apparatus of claim 14 wherein the amplitude adjusting means comprises means connected to the adjusting link for moving it angularly to a selected position with respect to the actuating link and wherein the discharge directing adjusting means comprises means connected to the adjusting link for securing the same in a selected position of axial adjustment.

16. The oscillating feed apparatus of claim 14 wherein the amplitude adjusting means comprises a quadrant positioned transversely of the adjusting link and means for releasably securing the adjusting link to the quadrant at a selected position thereon, and wherein the discharge direction adjusting means comprises guide and slide means for moving the adjusting link between a plurality of axial stations and means for releasably securing the link in a selected one of the stations.

No references cited. 

